Adjustable calendar

ABSTRACT

An adjustable calendar for automatically designating the relationship of a repetitive or non-repetitive non-conventional time cycle to a conventional time cycle for a given day. The calendar includes a base having a predetermined calendar period imprinted thereon. A transparent overlay sheet is adapted to be removably affixed to the base. Indexing means are on the base and said overlay sheet for alignment thereof in a predetermined manner. A curve is imprinted on one of the base on the sheet to indicate the non-conventional time cycle of a repetitive or nonrepetitive sequence of events on a continuous basis. A conventional time line is on the other of the base and the sheet positioned so that when the overlay sheet is properly aligned with the base, the conventional time line will be aligned with the curve in a predetermined manner. Finally, lateral adjustment means are on the calendar to shift the sheet with respect to the base to a desired position so that the conventional time line is aligned with the curve to designate a known relationship between the non-conventional time cycle and the conventional time line for a particular day thereby automatically defining the relationship therebetween for the remainder of the days in the remaining calendar period.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,838,530 Schelling, Jr. 1 Oct. 1, 1974 ADJUSTABLE CALENDAR [57] ABSTRACT [76] inventor: ouis SC e ling, Jr., 2 Meadow Ln., An adjustable calendar for automatically designating North Caldwell, NJ. 07201 the relationship of a repetitive or non-repetitive nonconventional time c cle to a conventional time c cle [22] Flled' 1972 for a given day. The calendar includes a base havih g a pp 315,518 predetermined calendar period imprinted thereon. A transparent overlay sheet is adapted to be removably 52 us. (:1 40/107 283/2 40/119 the base' Indexing means are base 51 Int. Cl. G091! 3/04 and Overlay Sheet for l l FhereOf m a [58] Field of Search 40/107 110 119- 35/40- deemmed A 9". l of 235/85 5 the base on the sheet to mdicate the non-conventional time cycle of a repetitive or non-repetitive sequence [56] References Cited pf events or;1 a crintinufoutsl basis. A cmliientilpnal time meisonteotero te asean teseetposi- UNITED STATES PATENTS tioned so that when the overlay sheet is properly 413,371 10/1889 OBrien 40/l l9 aligned with the base, the conventional time line 431,281 7/1890 Patten 283/2 be aligned with the Curve in a predetermined manner Finally, lateral adjustment means are on the calendar 2 494 536 1 1950 Atwood "Q2511: III: /40 to hi the Sheet with respec? to daisired 2:582:355 1 1952 Ratner............: 107 Posmon so that the Convemlonal allgned 3,370,789 2/1968 Sherman 235 PC with the Curve to designate a known relauonshlp 3,524,313 8/1970 Wood 58/3 tween the non-Conventional time Cycle and the 3,570,448 11/1971 Gates 40/110 ventional time line for a particular day thereby auto- 3,708,971 1/1973 Wlodyka 58/3 matically defining the relationship therebetween for FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS theremainder of the days in the remaining calendar 641,038 0/1963 Belgium 40 107 penod' 16,087 12/1885 Great Britain 40/107 Primary Examiner-J. H. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or FirmKane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan and Kurucz 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures /973 flA/d/AZV 64/AA04V ai/04y I AM A/mv PM .444 4048 PM ll l lll ll l ll llfl ll ll l ll ll l lll lll lllllfll l ll l l llll EAIENTEB [ET I I914 smear a h p v V D D D D D 1 D D ADJUSTABLE CALENDAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many situations where a sequence of events occurs on a regular time cycle. This sequence can be plotted on a continuous basis in the form of one or more curves. In most instances, the recurrence of events is out of sequence with the normal 24-hour time period of our regular calendar day. Yet, during a persons normal activities which are based on the conventional calendar day, it is often desirable to have available the point in time of a repetitive or non-repetitive time cycle which is different from the conventional time cycle so that cycle conditions at that particular point in time in a conventional day can be quickly ascertained. Examples of repetitive or non-repetitive time cycles which come to mind are tide conditions, moon and sun conditions, sidereal time, and menstrual cycles. Naturally, there are others, however, the general category is directed to those cycles which are re petitive and non-repetitive on a continuous basis and which are out of sequence with the conventional 24- hour day.

Adjustable calendar structures for providing ready reference for any given point in time in regard to the relationship of any of the above cycles to the conventional 24-hour day would be extremely valuable. No such device is available in the known art. The utility of an adjustable structure which would satisfy the above discussed needs would be extremely valuable. For example, in environments and activities dealing with oceans of the world it is quite often desirable and sometimes necessary to have readily available a tide calendar for reference to tide conditions at a given geographical location on a given day. There are charts available which define the tide conditions at a given geographic reference point and calculations are required in order to determine the tide conditions on a given day at any other reference point. Mariners can calculate their own chart for a particular geographic location, however, individual calculations must be made for each individual day based upon the reference chart. There is no known calendar device for automatically giving tide conditions over a calendar period, such as a month, by making a simple adjustment to locate the known tide conditions for a given day as calculated from known information.

A versatile and useful structure would be one which can be quickly adjusted for a wide range of geographic points to automatically define the tide conditions for a calendar period such as a month with the use of known tide date for only one reference day. Additionally, it would be helpful if the adjusted calendar structure automatically locates the tide conditions for the beginning of the next succeeding calendar period with the structure being adapted for continuous use for succeeding months ofa calendar year and further for additional years at a particular geographic location with calculations only being necessary for an additional reference day. The structure should be one which is adaptable for use over a wide geographic area and which can be readily adjusted when the user turns his attention to the tidal conditions at a different geographic location.

The structural calendar device should be of low cost design and easy and efficient to use and operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the above background in mind, it is among the primary objectives of the present invention to provide a calendar which is adjustable to be indexed for designating the relationship between a repetitive or nonrepetitive non-conventional time cycle and a conventional time cycle at any given point in time. For example, the calendar is adapted to designate a particular tide condition at a chosen geographic location at a particular point in time so as to automatically designate the tide conditions for a continuous sequence of calendar references from day to day, month to month, and year to year without further adjustment being necessary for that particular geographic location. Additionally, the calendar structure is such that it can'readily be adjusted for designating tide conditions at avariety of different geographic locations by merely realigning the components in response to a new known single reference tide condition at a known time at the new location. The structure is low cost in design. simple to operate and accurate and efficient to use.

In summary. an adjustable calendar is provided for automatically designating the relationship of a repetitive or non-repetitive non-conventional time cycle to a conventional time cycle for a given day. The calendar includes a base having a predetermined calendarperiod imprinted thereon and a transparent overlay sheet adapted to be removably affixed to the base. Indexing means are on the base and the overlay sheet for alignment thereof in a predetermined manner. The curve is imprinted on one of the base and the-sheet-to indicate the non-conventional time cycle of a repetitive or nonrepetitive sequence of events on a continuous basis. A conventional time line on the other of said base and said sheet is positioned so that when the overlay sheet is properly aligned with the base, the conventionaltime line would be aligned with the curve in apredetermined manner. Finally, lateral adjustment means are on the calendar to shift the sheet with respect to the base to a desired position so that the conventional time line is aligned with the curve to designate a known relationship between the non-conventional time cycle and the conventional time line for a particular day thereby automatically defining the relationship therebetween for the remainder of the days in the remaining calendar period.

The calendar is adapted for use in automatically designating tide conditions for a given day during a given calendar period. It is also useful in any other repetitive or non-repetitive non-conventional time cycle circumstance such as moon and sun conditions, sidereal time, and menstrual cycles.

With the above objectives, among others, in mind, reference is had to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the base portion of the tide calendar in the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the transparent overlay sheet portion of the tide calendar of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of the tide calendar of the invention showing an alternative fastening and lateral adjustment mechanism; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation view thereof taken along the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As an example, the adjustable calendar is shown as a tide calendar 20 in assembled elevational form in FIG. 4. An overlay sheet 21 is affixed to a plurality of layers of month-to-month calendar sheets 22 in sequence for the twelve months of the year as shown or. alternatively, in other repetitive calendar period such as week by week or year by year on any convenient number of sheets utilizing either one or both sides of each sheet. The monthly layers 22 are attached in a convenient manner so that they may be individually removed or exposed as the calendar year progresses. The accumulation of layers 22 in engaged position form base 23. Tide calendar 20 is divided into two major components which include overlay sheet 21 and base 23.

An individual layer sheet 22 of base 23 is illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown, a month of the year in orderly sequential fashion is shown in day-by-day arrangement and includes several days from the next following month for reasons discussed below. A tide curve 24 is imprinted in a continuous manner on the printed calendar month of each layer 22. The peak 25 of each curve 24 represents a high tide and the trough or low point 26 represents a low tide. A path of curve 24 is determined by a general geographic location for which the tide calendar is applicable. For example, the Atlantic Ocean or the East Coast of the United States would be represented such as curve 24 as shown. Naturally for a different oceanic location such as the Pacific Coast of the United States, a different curve or combination of curves both regular and irregular would be employed. Curve 24 is applicable for an entire coast line rather than one specific coastal point. Curve 24 is plotted for known tidal repetition conditions. For example, it is known that for the Atlantic Ocean the repetitive cycle occurs on an average every 24 hours and 50.472 minutes. This known curve 24 is imprinted as shown on each calendar month sheet 22 and is applicable for use along the entire Atlantic Coast of the United States.

FIG. 2 shows the transparent overlay sheet 21 which may be formed of any conventional transparent material such as plastic. Overlay sheet has a monthly lattice 27 thereon to correspond to a day-by-day and week-byweek calendar month arrangement in a conventional fashion. This is shown as individual daily boxes headed in columns by a Sunday to Saturday sequence. Also imprinted on overlay sheet 21 is a continuous time line 28 broken down into predetermined time intervals 29 in a repetitive, fashion in a continuous line-byline sequence from beginning to end of lattice 27. If desired, as shown a specific reference point such as noon of any day designated as imprinted point 30 can be utilized for each calendar day as an enlarged reference point from which to gauge time with respect to high and low tides when the overlay is applied to the calendar sheets.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 3, overlay 20 is positioned on the upper exposed layer 22 of base 23 and is aligned in respect to vertical and horizontal axes in a convenient manner. For example. as shown, a reference line 31 can be imprinted on each base layer 22 to be brought into alignment with an appropriate reference line 32 on the overlay sheet. The actual attachment can be accomplished in several ways. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a resilient plastic U-shaped clamp 33 may be expanded and positioned so that overlay 21 and base 23 are located between the side of clamp 33. Alternatively. top and bottom clamps may be employed to operate in the same manner. Release of clamp 33 will then permit the resilient sides to move toward one another and affix overlay 21 to base 23. Clamp 33 is expandable to relieve the clamping pressure on the overlay and base assembly to permit removal of the overlay, one or more layers of the base and to permit adjustment of the overlay sheet with respect to the base layer.

The base can be formed of layers of any desirable calendar period such as a year with each layer 22 having imprinted thereon a consecutive month of the year. For example. as shown in the drawings. the top layer 22 can have imprinted thereon January 1973. The next layer would have February 1973. Layers 22 may be interconnected in any conventional manner such as an adhesive tape at the top or may be merely held together by means of clamp 33. In any event, each month should be removable from the remaining months represented by the layers of base 23 as each time period expires. The appropriate type curve is imprinted on each layer 22 as discussed above. The transparent overlay sheet 21 is then placed on the top layer 22 as shown in FIG. 3 with the depicted sheet 22 being represented by January 1973. The index line 32 on the overlay is aligned with index line 31 on the January monthly calendar thereby bringing the overlay into general alignment with the sheet 22. Clamp 33 is positioned about the overlay and base to hold them in the fixed relative aligned position.

To adjust the overlay with respect to the month shown in regard to tide conditions, the known tide conditions from a particular reference day are utilized. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, December 31st. 1972 has known tide conditions from the tide calendar of the previous year. For exemplary purposes, a high tide is shown to occur at the noon point 30 of December 31st. Clamp 33 is loosen and the overlay is shifted laterally until the noon indicator point 30 is brought into alignment with the high tide peak 25 of the tide curve. This action automatically aligns the time line 28 with the curve 24 on the remainder of overlay sheet 22 thereby automatically designating the tide conditions for each day of the month of January 1973. Additionally, by showing the first few days of February 1973 on the calendar sheet, the tide conditions for the first day of February on the following layer 22 are automatically designated. Therefore, when the January period is ended and layer 22 showing January 1973 is removed the tide conditions for February 1st as shown on the January sheet serve as a reference point for aligning the Febru ary layer 22 with the overlay sheet. Removal of the individual layers can be easily achieved by deforming resilient clamp 33, directing the overlay sheet out of the way and removing the used layer 22.

A further means of determining the initial reference day would be from known tide conditions at a particular location as taken from a readily available conventional chart. Once the tide conditions for that location have been calculated from the known chart, the calendar 20 can be adjusted as discussed above for that particular location. In that manner, the calendar is versatile in that it may be used for any range of geographical tide conditions is adaptable for a wide range of geographical locations. Onee proper alignment has been accomplished, no further adjustment is necessary and high and low tide conditions can be read immediately for any particular day of the shown month by a mere glance at the calendar.

An alternate means of fastening the overlay sheet to the base 23 is demonstrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. An elongated slot 34 is provided in overlay sheet 21 and a circular hole is provided in base layer 22. When the overlay sheet is properly aligned with the base layer, hole 35 is aligned with slot 34 so that a fastener member of a conventional type can be passed therethrough to affix the overlay sheet to the base layers. Loosening of the fastener retains the relative position of the overlay sheet with respect to the base in one direction but permits lateral shifting of the overlay sheet throughout the length of slot 34 so that the time line 28 can be properly aligned with the curve 24 for designation of the proper tide conditions.

in the embodiments shown, the tide curve 24 is on each of the base layers 22 and the time line 28 is on the overlay sheet 21. Tide calendar 20 can also be designed with the tide curve on the overlay sheet and the time line on each of the individual base layers. The operation and result would be the same with the transparent overlay sheet having the curve thereon being properly aligned with a particular base layer having the time line imprinted thereon. It should be kept in mind that although in the embodiment shown, horizontal reference lines are employed on the overlay and the base for initial alignment, other convenient aligning means may be employed where the transparent overlay can be readily and easily properly positioned with respect to the base.

When utilizing the calendar to designate tides as shown in the depicted embodiments, the following consideration should be kept in mind. Determine when it is high tide in the selected location on the selected reference day. If top and bottom clamps are provided and are removable from the calendar, slide the clamps off the calendar. Then, slide the overlay sheet horizontally until the top of the high tide indicator on the overlay points to the time of high tide on the reference date selected. The calendar is designed so that the overlay need never extend off either side of the calendar sheet. Thereafter, make sure that the rest of the overlay is horizontally aligned with the rest of the calendar sheet. Then, starting at either the right hand side or the left hand side, carefully slide the clamp or clamps over the complete calendar in selected sequence. The calendar is then in condition for use with tides for the entire month indicated. At the end of the month, the first day of the next succeeding month is indicated so that the overlay sheet can be removed and positioned as described above on the next succeeding month of the calendar.

Should the calendar happen to show a month on a sheet which has its last day ending in the last available square on the sheet, there are several ways in which the tide conditions for the following month can be set. First, the calendar may be provided with an additional row of day squares so that at least the first day of each succeeding month is exposed on every calendar period sheet, or alternatively, in those rare occasions where the first day of the following month does not appear on the four rows exposed on the calendar sheet, the following month can be reset on the basis of a known reference. The second procedure would be conducted in the same fashion in which the calendar is initially properly aligned.

In explanation and for purposes of understanding the use of the present adjustable calendar in a tide environment. it should be pointed out that the precise average of the moons transits around the earth is 24 hours and 50.472 minutes. Since the moon is the primary factor in controlling the tides. all tides must follow this average. Therefore, the adjustable calendar is set to the lunar day. The overlay sheet indicates the solar 24-hour day and the curve on each calendar sheet represents the 24-hour and approximately /2 minute lunar day.

Actually, there are 12 hours and 25% minutes between peaks.

Because of the elliptical pattern of the moon, and because of the additional, although minor, effect of the sun, and because of other minor influences, the actual time of the tides will vary from this average. They will generally be later for part of the month and be earlier for another part of the month. However, they will always return to agree exactly with the average. For most purposes, utilization of the average is sufficiently accurate. Therefore, the calendar is readily usable in almost all practical applications.

As discussed above, the calendar system is applicable for moon and sun conditions, sidereal time and other repetitive or non-repetitive non-conventional time cycles.

Thus, the above discussed objectives of the present invention are effectively attained.

I claim:

1. An adjustable tide calendar comprising:

an elongated rectangular base formed in layers with each layer having daily successive calendar markings for a period in excess of one month and the layers arranged in monthly order;

each layer having a curve thereon in alignment with the associated calendar markings and representing daily tidal conditions for a given geographic area;

a transparent overlay sheet adapted to be removably affixed to the base;

an array of time lines on the overlay sheet and calendar indicia arranged for alignment with the markings and curve on each base layer;

indexing means on the overlay and each base layer to facilitate proper positioning of the overlay with the exposed layer of the base whereby when the overlay is properly positioned on the exposed layer for a tide condition at one point in time the tide conditions will be automatically designated for the entire period in excess of one month and the portion in excess of one month coinciding with the beginning portion of the following month on the next succeeding layer so that as each layer is removed the overlay can be properly aligned with the next layer for continuously providing tidal conditions for the given geographic area;

a resilient releasable clamp for holding the overlay sheet in tight interengagement with the base and in alignment with the exposed layer of the base to designate tidal conditions for the period in excess of one month;

sides attempt to engage with one another, and the base and overlay being shiftable with respect to one another and separable for removal of base layers by forcing the resilient sides away from one another to free the overlay and base. 

1. An adjustable tide calendar comprising: an elongated rectangular base formed in layers with each layer having daily successive calendar markings for a period in excess of one month and the layers arranged in monthly order; each layer having a curve thereon in alignment with the associated calendar markings and representing daily tidal conditions for a given geographic area; a transparent overlay sheet adapted to be removably affixed to the base; an array of time lines on the overlay sheet and calendar indicia arranged for alignment with the markings and curve on each base layer; indexing means on the overlay and each base layer to facilitate proper positioning of the overlay with the exposed layer of the base whereby when the overlay is properly positioned on the exposed layer for a tide condition at one point in time the tide conditions will be automatically designated for the entire period in excess of one month and the portion in excess of one month coinciding with the beginning portion of the following month on the next succeeding layer so that as each layer is removed the overlay can be properly aligned with the next layer for continuously providing tidal conditions for the given geographic area; a resilient releasable clamp for holding the overlay sheet in tight interengagement with the base and in alignment with the exposed layer of the base to designate tidal conditions for the period in excess of one month; the clamp being a U-shaped elongated resilient member with opposing sides tending to move into engagement; and the base and overlay being extendible between the sides so that the sides place a compressive force thereon to hold the base and sheet together as the sides attempt to engage with one another, and the base and overlay being shiftable with respect to one another and separable for removal of base layers by forcing the resilient sides away from one another to free the overlay and base. 